About TJ...

BEATING Michael Schumacher on the race course was a thrill for new musical talent TJ but he was more interested in completing tracks of a different kind. Its not every day you get to hear honey-soft vocals coming from a six foot four blonde half-Scottish surf dude. But TJ aka Terence James Billam, 20, gave up fast cars, sandy beaches and the high life in Monaco to follow his first love of singing and put in some hard graft making music in his mum's hometown of Glasgow.

The 6 foot 4 lad has model looks but a down to earth gentlemanly attitude and musical talent that has already won over the hearts of thousands. He began writing and singing music at the tender age of seven after watching the news about 9/11 on TV. As TJ explains: "I wrote a musical piece about the twin towers. It was a thirty second long piano piece and my mum admitted she was moved by it. I play by ear. I'm dyslexic and can't read or write music so mum encouraged me."

Aged ten, TJ penned a charity song for school and the same piece won him an appearance on Richard and Judy as well as £1000 for his primary. He blushes: "I've still got the video and its really embarrassing." Record company interest followed but his mum and dad felt he was too young. In the years to follow TJ tried out his other love of racing, but despite beating Schumacher on a go-karting track, realised the lure of music was too strong. He explains: "I wanted to be a Formula One driver at one point but I couldn't afford to fund it. I got pretty high up in go-karting and beat Michael Schumacher on the race track when I was 12. I was lighter than Schumacher so I had an advantage but he gracefully signed my helmet and said 'Congratulations'."

At 17, TJ realised he couldn't hide his musical talents any longer and tried for the X Factor. He says of the experience: "It was something I wanted to try but I wasn't quite ready. Cheryl, Simon, Louis and Danni were judging and put me through to boot camp even though I forgot my words during my first audition. It was a good thing for me to do and it gave me more confidence."

It was only when his Shettleston-born mum ran into an old school friend from home that his singing hopes re-emerged. TJ says: "My mum's old class mate knew top songwriter John McLaughlin and suggested he might like to hear my songs. There was no way I was going to give up on that opportunity."

Now TJ has followed his original dream and is living and working in Glasgow with John. Despite the obvious climate and lifestyle change, he enthuses: "I love it here and prefer it to Monaco. It's a lot more straightforward." With upbeat poprocking ballads like One More Kiss (about an ex girlfriend), Killers influenced anthem Close Your Eyes , and the emotionally charged Dancing In The Flame TJ is garnering critical acclaim and is now very much in a different kind of pole position.